The CBI Ain’t Exactly Packin’ Em In

Continuing with the nonstop HD&F CBI coverage… with 4/8 of the first round CBI games in the books, Constable Echelon’s bracket isn’t the only thing in bad shape right now.  Ohio had 1,169 people show up to their home game.  At least they won.  I’m no math major, but I’m pretty sure that means they’re looking at possibly paying money to cover that $60,000 guarantee.  Pretty expensive cover charge to barely sneak by at home against Brown.   Oops.

The other games did better when it comes to butts in seats, but they aren’t exactly rewriting attendance records either.  2,036 at Old Dominion, 4,022 at Virginia (playing Richmond, 70 miles away, couldn’t have hurt),  and 4,252 at Nevada.

To be fair, a few of last night’s NIT games weren’t any better attendance wise (nice support, Florida State and UMASS).  HOWEVUH, the NIT is an established tournament safely backed by the loving arms of the NCAA and ESPN.  Funny what an antitrust lawsuit can get ya.  And they aren’t making first round host schools put up guaranteed money.  Teams have been saying all the right things about how great it is to have the chance for extra games, but athletic departments don’t like losing $$ with their big ticket sports.   I don’t think I like the initial smell coming out of this tournament.  Nope, definitely not. 

The flip side of all this general indifference is that plenty of good seats are still available, Husky fans!  Yippee!